The effectiveness of back belts on occupational back injuries and worker perception

Manual materials handling is a major industrial hazard in terms of the incidence of low-back injuries sustained during; lifting activities. Employees involve in heavy lifting have been found to experience almost eight times as many low-back injuries as those performing more sedentary tasks (Snook). At least 25 percent of all reported occupational injuries in the U.S. are attributed to overexertion; these injuries often lead to long absences from work, disability, premature retirement or career changes (Snook). Estimates suggest that more than 50 percent of all compensable back-pain incidents stem from manual materials handling, and that these injuries may account for up to one-fourth of all workers' compensation indemnity expenditures